Duck Tacos Recipes

TAMARIND GLAZED DUCK TACOS WITH GRILLED PINEAPPLE RELISH AND PICKLED ONIONS

Steps:

• Combine the honey, tamarind concentrate, lime juice, garlic and chiles in a saucepan, bring to simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes. Transfer to a food processor, season with salt and pepper and process until smooth. Pour into a bowl and let cool.
• Preheat a charcoal grill for medium-low and medium direct heat, and indirect grilling. Have ready a squeeze bottle filled with water to handle flare-ups.
• Score the duck breasts with a sharp knife to make a diagonal cross-hatch pattern and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the duck on the grill, skin-side down, and cook, uncovered, until the skin is nicely browned, about 15 minutes. If the flare-ups are too great, or the duck browns too quickly, move the duck occasionally over the indirect heat, and then back to direct heat.
• Once almost all of the fat has rendered and the skin is a deep golden brown, flip the duck over, move over medium heat, brush generously with the tamarind glaze and continue grilling until an instant-read thermometer reaches 140 degrees F for medium-rare, about 5 minutes. Remove the duck to a cutting board, brush with more of the glaze and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing on the diagonal into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
• Spread some glaze on the corn tortillas. Top with some duck slices, Pineapple Relish, Pickled Onions and cilantro leaves.
• Preheat a charcoal grill for direct medium-high heat.
• Brush the pineapple slices with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the pineapple until charred on both sides and just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the pineapple, cut into dice and place in a bowl. Add the green onions, serrano chiles, lime juice and 2 tablespoons canola oil and toss. Add the cilantro and toss again. Taste, season with salt and pepper, and add more oil, if desired. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
• Combine the lime juice, vinegar, sugar and salt in a small saucepan, bring to a boil and cook until the sugar and salt dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Pour the liquid mixture over the onions and mix to combine. Top the onions with a small plate to weigh down slightly, cover with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Combine the onions and oregano in a medium bowl.

DUCK TACOS

Steps:

• Remove the duck meat from the bones, discarding all skin and sinew. Shred meat. Heat the fat in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Saute' the onion with the salt and pepper until translucent. Add the red peppers and duck meat and cook, stirring frequently, until heated through. Keep warm. Combine the salsa, honey and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
• For tacos, toast 12 small corn tortillas as for carnitas tacos. Divide the filling and center on each tortilla. Top each with a tablespoon of salsa and a slice of avocado, and serve.

CRISPY FRAGRANT DUCK TACOS WITH ASIAN PEAR AND MANGO SALSA

Steps:

• For the duck marinade: In a medium bowl, add the ginger, peppercorns, rice wine, dark and light soy sauce, sea salt and star anise and stir to combine. Add the duck, cover with plastic wrap and leave to marinate for 30 minutes or as long as overnight in the refrigerator.
• For the salsa: While the duck marinates, combine the cilantro, ginger, chile, grapefruit, lime juice and zest, pears, mangos, onions and chile flakes in a medium bowl. Toss to combine and season with sea salt. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Heat a wok or pan over high heat and add the vegetable oil. Place the duck into the wok, skin-side down, and fry until the skin is brown and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the breasts and reduce the heat to medium. Cover and cook for 4 minutes.
• Remove the duck and let rest for 5 minutes. Chop the duck into bite-size pieces, then dust the pieces in the cornstarch and coat well.
• Heat a wok or pan over high heat and fill to a quarter of its depth with peanut oil. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F, or until a cube of bread turns golden brown in 15 seconds and floats to the surface. Ensure that your wok is stable before deep-frying.
• Place the duck pieces in a spider/scoop, carefully lower into the oil and fry until crispy and golden brown. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels.
• To serve, spoon some crispy duck onto a tortilla and top with some Asian pear salsa. Serve with small bowls of cilantro, flaked sea salt and dried chile flakes so guests can season their own and help themselves.

ROAST DUCK SOFT TACOS

Steps:

• Cut the peppers into thin slices. In a large serving bowl, combine them with the romaine and green onions. Toss well.
• Preheat an oven to 200°F. Place the tortillas in a covered heatproof container such as a tortilla warmer or a shallow casserole with a lid. Place the tortillas in the oven and heat for 20 minutes.
• Place the duck meat, lime wedges, sour cream, and salsa in separate serving bowls. Let the diners spread a little sour cream on a tortilla, add a little salsa, a little duck, a little lettuce mixture, and squeeze a little lime juice over all. Roll and eat.